Bigelow, J.  American Medical Botany (1817-1821).

Bigelow's most important botanical contribution was the first American imprint to contain printed color plates.  Bigelow himself devised the color printing process for the sixty plates featured in this seminal three volume work.  Prior to its publication, Bigelow was best known for his extensive work identifying the flora of New England.

Jacob Bigelow (1786-1879), American botanist and physician, received his M.D. from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1810.  He served as Professor of Materia Medica at Harvard University for forty years (1815-1855).  Bigelow made the first effective protest against the misuse of drugs, over-medication, and the excessive use of bloodletting.  He also denounced the traditional system of medical education for its reliance on classical languages.

The Blue Gentian plate featured in the HMDL, is currently viewable in a black and white version only.  For a full color image, please refer to the College's brochure for the Historical Library.

(Source: Garrison & Morton; Dictionary of American Biography)